The Seven Most Iconic Film & TV Characters: A 2025 Update

This post was originally published on my old blog

Over a decade ago, back in 2014, I wrote a post outlining the seven most iconic characters in media. A lot has changed since then, but the core question remains: What makes a character truly iconic?

For me, the criteria I set back then still hold true, with a little refinement. Firstly – Is this character universally recognized, even just from a silhouette? Secondarily, yet importantly – can you see the actor and the first thing that comes to mind is that character? Lastly - how many actors have been known to play this role?

The stronger that link between actor and role, the higher the rank. All of my choices must satisfy the first condition, have to satisfy the second, but their final placement is determined by the third.

Without further ado, here is my updated list for 2025.

7. Batman (Various)

The hugely intelligent Batman by night and billionaire Bruce Wayne by day. Fueled by the tragedy of his past, he uses fear and an arsenal of incredible gadgets to protect the people of Gotham. The most popular modern portrayal is that by Christian Bale, whose role shot to more prominence in The Dark Knight opposite Heath Ledger's Joker, who died six months before its release. The movie is widely regarded by critics as one of the best superhero films ever made. The fact that the mantle keeps getting passed to new actors proves the character itself is the true icon. By the time you finish reading this article, they’ve probably already cast a new one.

6. James Bond (Various)

The 1953-created James Bond (code name 007) should be lower down this list. However, because the character has also been portrayed by more than one actor due to its frequent reboots, it is fair to place him here. The original and, for many, the definitive Bond is Sean Connery, who played the suave super-spy with a license to kill. He’s the epitome of cool, a gentleman spy who is as comfortable in a high-stakes poker game as he is in a high-speed car chase or getting hot damsels in bed outside while executing MI-6 missions. It's a role Connery almost didn't get, as creator Ian Fleming initially called him "an overgrown stuntman." Now, the "Who will be the next Bond?" debate is the most hotly contested job opening in the world.

5. Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp)

Forget Captain America or Captain Hook! We all love Captain Jack Sparrow - the flamboyant, morally ambiguous, and frequently tipsy pirate captain of the Black Pearl. He's a master of talking his way out of (and into) trouble, often with a slurred monologue that leaves his enemies bewildered. From his unique looks to his annoying personality and further down to his bad personal hygiene and constantly failing trickery, this Pirates of the Caribbean character is one of the most famous ever! You're never quite sure if he's a genius or just incredibly lucky. Depp famously based the character's eccentric swagger on a combination of The Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richards and the cartoon skunk Pepé Le Pew, a risky choice Disney executives were initially terrified of. That risk paid off, launching a franchise that sailed past $4.5 billion at the box office. Now, you’ll still find his iconic run all over your TikTok feed.

4. Wolverine (Hugh Jackman)

The tough-as-nails, cigar-chomping mutant with six unbreakable claws. He’s a lone wolf with a reluctant heart of gold, often finding himself as a gruff father figure to younger mutants. For over two decades, Hugh Jackman is Wolverine. He famously "retired" the character in Logan, only to come back again for another round. It's a role he famously won at the last minute after actor Dougray Scott had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with Mission: Impossible 2. Jackman’s portrayal has since become the Guinness World Record holder for the "longest career as a live-action Marvel superhero.". At this rate, Hugh Jackman is bound to play this role till he's 90.

3. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.)

It is amazing what can happen in a decade. Tony Stark was nowhere near my Top 50 list a decade ago, but now he’s ranked third. The "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist" who became Iron Man. He started as an arrogant arms dealer but evolved into the ultimate hero who made the final sacrifice. His journey from selfishness to selflessness became the very heart of the entire MCU saga. Robert Downey Jr. didn't just play Tony Stark; he embodied him, launching a $30 billion franchise with his irreplaceable charisma. His "I love you 3000" broke the internet, and fans are still scouring every new Marvel movie for a hint of his multiversal return. Downey’s portrayal was so captivating that Marvel has reportedly offered him $100m (Yes, you read that right - a hundred million US Dollars) to play Dr Doom.

2. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe)

The boy who lived remains one of the most famous characters in the world. J.K. Rowling herself co-signed the casting of Daniel Radcliffe after a long search, saying she felt it was like "being reunited with her long-lost son”. Daniel Radcliffe first portrayed Harry Potter at age 11, literally growing up on screen. We watched him go from a bewildered boy living under the stairs to a courageous young man facing his destiny. A somewhat timid character propelled by his own conscience, his mission was to defeat the most evil wizard known to mankind (and wizardkind). He's so definitive in the role that the biggest question for the new HBO series is, "But who could possibly replace him?"

1. Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson)

You didn’t think he would be here, did you? Rowan Atkinson’s character was literally a child in a grown man’s body, with a teddy bear for a best friend. Quite the opposite of what you’d expect from someone with an MSc in Electrical Engineering. Suffice it to say that he created the character himself! Almost always sporting his trademark tweed jacket and skinny red tie, this hilarious buffoon entertained almost all ages of audiences worldwide. He approaches everyday situations with the logic of an alien, finding bafflingly complex solutions to the simplest of problems. Rowan Atkinson's bumbling creation is a global phenomenon built on just 15 original episodes, which is hugely impressive, considering the timeless legacy. Mr Bean as a character vastly influenced Rowan Atkinson: for example, in movies such as Love Actually and Johnny English Reborn, he still depicted his comedic physical and visual style. He's a walking, breathing GIF who has been a king of memes since the internet began. Before there were TikToks, there was Mr. Bean.